Singing During Wedding Ceremony

I have 2 questions I need advice on...

1.) Who should sing it? I have a bridesmaid that has a BEAUTIFUL voice and wouldn't mind singing at all, but I wouldn't want to ask too much of her or take away from her bridesmaid role. OR FH has a 16yr old sister who is not in the wedding (helping with guest book and such) who can also sing beautifully and wouldn't mind singing either, I do think my BM would do a better job on this song but either would sound great.

2.) When should it be sung? I have no idea... I've thought about before I walk down the aisle. It's only a 2.5 minute song but I also don't want to be standing there awkwardly.

Please don't. I love that song, in all it's versions and a lot of my couples use it for their processional, but random singing during a ceremony that is not in a church always feels weird. How about for your first dance?

I've seen plenty of weddings where a bridesmaid has stepped out to sing or read. Carly did it at Jade and Tanner's wedding. I don't see why your BM couldn't do it if she is your first choice voice! She shouldn't lose the part to someone less talented just because she is also a BM.

ETA: Wow, really Celia? I am surprised. Most of the weddings I have been to have had a singer. I never thought it was a weird thing. So when you say "not in a church"---is it not weird in a church because usually a church song is a hymn? Or is the location of a church what makes is less weird regardless of the song choice?

Every time someone gets up and sings at a wedding it's awkward. The one time it worked okay the song just went on too long. It was a duet and they sang every single verse. Beautiful voices, but this isn't a concert.

Beut, it's one of those weird illogical things. I think I've had a total of four singers at my weddings (which are obviously not in churches) and they always seem awkward.....

Agree unless it's someone famous, it will probably be awkward. You could play the instrumental version. Just as beautiful and so less awkward.

Wow. I had no idea people felt so strongly about this. Haha. At the big wedding we were planning, there was going to be so much live singing. Haha. Guess I dodged that bullet?

@Novak--yes, all true. Probably why I didn't think it was weird.

Makes me think though. I'll have to look around at the next wedding I am at that has singing during the ceremony. Normally I am all invested in the moment, but perhaps I should look around and see if other people are obviously bored or uncomfortable.

I'm having two soloists at my ceremony, but it's also in a church. One will sing Ave Maria after the scripture readings. I chose that particular piece because it was done at my parents' wedding as well (I've watched their wedding video, it's beautiful). The other soloist will sing A Parents' Prayer during the sand ceremony. The song is about letting go of two so they can become one so we thought that would be a good time for it and our officiant advised that sometimes the sand ceremony becomes awkward as people just wait in silence for the sand to be finished pouring so he'll sing while we're pouring the sand.

ETA - I've had people request that I sing Ave Maria at my own wedding and I refused, but I'm looking forward to my friend singing it and she's so excited to be part of the ceremony. Our crowd will definitely expect singing.

My good friend sings at weddings all the time, but she usually sings before the wedding starts, as guests are arriving/being seated (the prelude, I think its called?)

Hmmm looks like I'll forego the singing. I have been to a few weddings where people have sang and it wasn't extremely awkward for me as a guest, it was just one of those things that happens at weddings lol but me standing up there doing nothing would most definitely make me nervous.

I'm still considering before I come in, the only dilemma there is I wouldn't have my bridesmaid sing if I did that.

My brother & sister are both music performance majors & are singing that song at my wedding! They are singing it during the unity candle, though, so that's not much help to you. But I am a fan of singing, and music is a huge part of both of our families, so it makes sense for us. Most weddings I've been to have singing- I'm surprised that so many people feel so strongly about it!

I sang Ave Maria as a bridesmaid at my sister's wedding. Yeah, it was a bit awkward...but so were the readings. Just part of the stage-managing of amateur performers, I think.

My god sister will be singing at my wedding while I walk down the aisle. She has sung at many weddings. The last wedding I went to had a singer for processional and the unity candle(the lords prayer). It wasn't awkward at all and she had an amazing voice. She was a hired vocalist. You want to make sure the song does not go on for to long. I think its a nice touch (if the person has a great voice). If they don't it can become very awkward...

I am having one of my best friends sing for me as I walk down the aisle. I asked her if she would "gift me her voice." So instead of a present, she is singing.

When she is done she will join the rest of the bridesmaids.

We have done theatre together for years. She said that normally she doesn't sing at wedding, but for me she would love to.

A friend sang to her groom during their ceremony (she has a nice voice).

She sang during our ceremony -- the longest 3 minutes of my life while we just stood and looked at each other. DH decided that would be a good time to chat!!!! When I tried to shush him, he said, "Don't shush me, woman -- I can still change my mind." LOL. Afterward, guests were asking what he said!

If you're doing a unity celebration, your officiant will probably be explaining it -- hard to do if there is music (even without vocals).

I sang in my FSIL & BIL wedding and I was majoring in vocal performance. They asked that I sing How Great Thou Art and that my NOW fiance play. I sang in the midst of the ceremony and the bride/groom watched me and smiled/teared up. I found a proper arrangement of the hymn that would be appropriate for a soloist. It had a two verses, a key change and a very climactic ending that rang out through the sanctuary halls. So I mean I feel that it has a LOT to do with song selection and deliverance. Of course like my mother says " It's only awkward if you make it awkward!" So I mean... there you go.